Schedule of Events
This schedule is updated frequently between now and throughout the Weekend.
Use the buttons to skip down.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Usdan University Center Hours of Operation
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out while enjoying assorted refreshments.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Usdan University Center Hours of Operation
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out while enjoying assorted refreshments.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Office of Admission Information Session
McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
Office of Admission Information Session
McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
12:00 PM to 1:15 PM
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission
Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission
Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
WESEMINAR The War that Shaped Our Lives: Reflections on the Vietnam War and the Protests Against It
A presentation and panel discussion featuring clips from films made by members of Wesleyan’s Class of 1970.
Moderator: Dave Davis '70
Panelists: Jim Elston '70, MAT'72; Deidre English; Bill Jefferson '70; Steve Talbot '70; David White '70
Throughout our years at Wesleyan, the escalating Vietnam war shadowed our lives. College deferments protected us from the draft, but we knew eventually we’d have to face a decision to enlist or resist in some way. Along with civil rights, it was the great moral issue of the time. It was also the first televised war, and some of us began filming our own experience of what was happening.
On this 50th anniversary of our graduation during Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia, the shootings at Kent State and Jackson State, and the National Student Strike, we look back at the conflict in Southeast Asia and the impact it had upon us. PBS producers Dave Davis and Steve Talbot will show a portion of their documentary, “1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation,” as well as clips from their Vietnam era documentaries beginning with “March on Washington” filmed with classmates and friends in November 1969 during what was then the largest anti-war march and rally in the nation’s history. They will also screen clips from their film about Vietnam Veterans Against the War and their trip to North Vietnam in 1974 with Deirdre English, one of the first women to attend Wesleyan. Bill Jefferson, who served involuntarily in the Army infantry, will screen part of his film, "Second Time Around," about the emotional return of three veterans to Vietnam in 2001, a film he co-produced. Bruce Williams helped with the editing.
Dave Davis ‘70 is Vice President of TV Production at Oregon Public Broadcasting. A three time national Emmy winner, Dave is a long-time producer and executive producer of public television series and specials, including the long running PBS series “History Detectives”. Dave has co-produced several public television specials with longtime friend and Wesleyan classmate, Steve Talbot.
Jim Elston '70, MAT'72 continued his education with an MAT from Wesleyan in 1972, a year of graduate study at York University in Toronto, and a PhD in History from the University of Michigan specializing in American foreign policy in 1976. He was an Assistant Professor at Boston College and Boston University from 1976 to 1984. After leaving academia he has been in the fine wine business, since 2002 as an independent importer of French wines.
Bill Jefferson ‘70 was forcibly conscripted into the Army infantry in March 1968 in the wake of his departure from Wesleyan following just one semester with the class of ’70. Bill returned to graduate in 1976, before pursuing careers in outdoor education and journalism, academia and social science research, and federal law enforcement while “playing around the edges” of the film industry for some twenty-five years as a Maine Times critic, teacher, advocate, fund raiser and volunteer grip, among other avocations.“Second Time Around,” co-produced with John Grant, documents the 2001 odyssey of a fellow anti-war veteran, come back to work with orphans in Saigon, just as the 9/11 attacks were about to plunge the United States into yet another forever war. This excerpt chronicles a side-trip to the site of a firefight Bill survived in January, 1969.
Stephen Talbot ‘70 is a veteran journalist and public television producer who has made over 40 documentaries, mainly for the PBS series FRONTLINE, KQED in San Francisco, and the Center for Investigative Reporting. He senior produced the series FRONTLINE World: Stories from a Small Planet, and he was the co-creator and executive producer of the PBS music specials, SOUND TRACKS: Music Without Borders. His work has won Emmys, DuPonts, Peabodys, Webbys, an Overseas Press Club Edward R. Murrow Award, a George Polk, and an "Edgar" from the Mystery Writers of America. He started making documentaries at Wesleyan with David Davis and they have continued to work on films together, including 1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation.
Hansel Lecture Hall (001), Public Affairs Center (PAC)
WESEMINAR The War that Shaped Our Lives: Reflections on the Vietnam War and the Protests Against It
A presentation and panel discussion featuring clips from films made by members of Wesleyan’s Class of 1970.
Moderator: Dave Davis '70
Panelists: Jim Elston '70, MAT'72; Deidre English; Bill Jefferson '70; Steve Talbot '70; David White '70
Throughout our years at Wesleyan, the escalating Vietnam war shadowed our lives. College deferments protected us from the draft, but we knew eventually we’d have to face a decision to enlist or resist in some way. Along with civil rights, it was the great moral issue of the time. It was also the first televised war, and some of us began filming our own experience of what was happening.
On this 50th anniversary of our graduation during Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia, the shootings at Kent State and Jackson State, and the National Student Strike, we look back at the conflict in Southeast Asia and the impact it had upon us. PBS producers Dave Davis and Steve Talbot will show a portion of their documentary, “1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation,” as well as clips from their Vietnam era documentaries beginning with “March on Washington” filmed with classmates and friends in November 1969 during what was then the largest anti-war march and rally in the nation’s history. They will also screen clips from their film about Vietnam Veterans Against the War and their trip to North Vietnam in 1974 with Deirdre English, one of the first women to attend Wesleyan. Bill Jefferson, who served involuntarily in the Army infantry, will screen part of his film, "Second Time Around," about the emotional return of three veterans to Vietnam in 2001, a film he co-produced. Bruce Williams helped with the editing.
Dave Davis ‘70 is Vice President of TV Production at Oregon Public Broadcasting. A three time national Emmy winner, Dave is a long-time producer and executive producer of public television series and specials, including the long running PBS series “History Detectives”. Dave has co-produced several public television specials with longtime friend and Wesleyan classmate, Steve Talbot.
Jim Elston '70, MAT'72 continued his education with an MAT from Wesleyan in 1972, a year of graduate study at York University in Toronto, and a PhD in History from the University of Michigan specializing in American foreign policy in 1976. He was an Assistant Professor at Boston College and Boston University from 1976 to 1984. After leaving academia he has been in the fine wine business, since 2002 as an independent importer of French wines.
Bill Jefferson ‘70 was forcibly conscripted into the Army infantry in March 1968 in the wake of his departure from Wesleyan following just one semester with the class of ’70. Bill returned to graduate in 1976, before pursuing careers in outdoor education and journalism, academia and social science research, and federal law enforcement while “playing around the edges” of the film industry for some twenty-five years as a Maine Times critic, teacher, advocate, fund raiser and volunteer grip, among other avocations.“Second Time Around,” co-produced with John Grant, documents the 2001 odyssey of a fellow anti-war veteran, come back to work with orphans in Saigon, just as the 9/11 attacks were about to plunge the United States into yet another forever war. This excerpt chronicles a side-trip to the site of a firefight Bill survived in January, 1969.
Stephen Talbot ‘70 is a veteran journalist and public television producer who has made over 40 documentaries, mainly for the PBS series FRONTLINE, KQED in San Francisco, and the Center for Investigative Reporting. He senior produced the series FRONTLINE World: Stories from a Small Planet, and he was the co-creator and executive producer of the PBS music specials, SOUND TRACKS: Music Without Borders. His work has won Emmys, DuPonts, Peabodys, Webbys, an Overseas Press Club Edward R. Murrow Award, a George Polk, and an "Edgar" from the Mystery Writers of America. He started making documentaries at Wesleyan with David Davis and they have continued to work on films together, including 1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation.
Hansel Lecture Hall (001), Public Affairs Center (PAC)
2:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
50th Reunion Class of 1970 Headquarters
Refreshments available.
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Class of 1970 Headquarters
Refreshments available.
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
50th Reunion Kickoff Reception and Dinner for the Class of 1970
Cocktails and dinner will be available.
Guests can enjoy a special tasting of delicious wine provided by Jim Elston '70.
Tickets: $30 per person for all adults and children over 12. $10 per person for children 12 and under.
Patricelli '92 Theater (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Kickoff Reception and Dinner for the Class of 1970
Cocktails and dinner will be available.
Guests can enjoy a special tasting of delicious wine provided by Jim Elston '70.
Tickets: $30 per person for all adults and children over 12. $10 per person for children 12 and under.
Patricelli '92 Theater (Show in Map)
Friday, May 22, 2020
8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Usdan University Center Hours of Operation and Cardinal Connection Cafe
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out while enjoying assorted refreshments.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Usdan University Center Hours of Operation and Cardinal Connection Cafe
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out while enjoying assorted refreshments.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Pi Cafe Hours
Snacks and beverages available for purchase.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
Pi Cafe Hours
Snacks and beverages available for purchase.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
50th Reunion Panel and Continental Breakfast
Kerr Lecture Hall (Room 107) Shanklin Lab (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Panel and Continental Breakfast
Kerr Lecture Hall (Room 107) Shanklin Lab (Show in Map)
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Senior Class Diploma Pick-Up
Members of the Class of 2020 may pick up their diplomas in the Registrar’s Office, North College. Graduates should be prepared to show a photo ID.
Registrar’s Office, North College (Show in Map)
Senior Class Diploma Pick-Up
Members of the Class of 2020 may pick up their diplomas in the Registrar’s Office, North College. Graduates should be prepared to show a photo ID.
Registrar’s Office, North College (Show in Map)
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Office of Admission Information Session
McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
Office of Admission Information Session
McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Welcome Lunch
Join friends, classmates, and family members for lunch when you arrive on campus for the weekend.
TICKETS: This lunch requires advance purchase/registration. If you are unable to purchase tickets in advance, lunch tickets are available for purchase at Registration in the Exley Science Center or at the lunch location.
Welcome Lunch
Join friends, classmates, and family members for lunch when you arrive on campus for the weekend.
TICKETS: This lunch requires advance purchase/registration. If you are unable to purchase tickets in advance, lunch tickets are available for purchase at Registration in the Exley Science Center or at the lunch location.
All reunion classes, graduates, and parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following for lunch:
$20 per person for all other adults and children over age 12
$10 per person for children 12 and under
Tent with red flag and tent with black flag, McKelvey Green (lawn in front of North and South College)
12:00 PM to 1:15 PM
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission
Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission
Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Gordon Career Center Open House
All are welcome to stop by the Gordon Career Center! Come to see the beautiful space and stay to speak with the GCC staff. The Gordon Career Center works with students to plan their summer and post Wesleyan pursuits. We provide skilled advising and access to alumni, parent, and employer partners from around the world as well as resume and cover letter review and workshops.
Gordon Career Center, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Bourt Building) (Show in Map)
Gordon Career Center Open House
All are welcome to stop by the Gordon Career Center! Come to see the beautiful space and stay to speak with the GCC staff. The Gordon Career Center works with students to plan their summer and post Wesleyan pursuits. We provide skilled advising and access to alumni, parent, and employer partners from around the world as well as resume and cover letter review and workshops.
Gordon Career Center, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Bourt Building) (Show in Map)
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
50th Reunion Class of 1970 Headquarters
Refreshments will be available.
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Class of 1970 Headquarters
Refreshments will be available.
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
WESEMINAR Climate Change and What an Ordinary Citizen Can Do
Details TBA.
Kerr Lecture Hall (Shanklin 107)
WESEMINAR Climate Change and What an Ordinary Citizen Can Do
Details TBA.
Kerr Lecture Hall (Shanklin 107)
2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
WESEMINAR Black Middletown Lives: The Beman Triangle and African American Digital History
WESEMINAR Black Middletown Lives: The Beman Triangle and African American Digital History
Wesleyan's campus contains two centuries of African American history, concealed in modest wood houses, toppling gravestones, and former church sites. In the 1820s, as northern slavery ended and the political battle over southern slavery intensified, free African Americans formed a unique, property-owning community on what is now the western edge of Wesleyan’s campus. These men and women transformed Middletown, a slave trading river port during the 18th century, into a center of the antislavery movement. Join Visiting Assistant Professor Jesse Nasta and the students in his African American Studies/service learning course as they share their research on Middletown’s nationally-significant African American history. This semester, students in Black Middletown Lives (AFAM307) have used local archives to uncover, digitize, and share the remarkable history of the Beman Triangle through a website, featuring interactive timelines and digitized documents, photographs, and artifacts. They will tell how, in the process, they have learned to decipher and share the history hidden in Wesleyan’s campus landscape.
Presenters: Jesse Nasta, PhD (Visiting Assistant Professor of African American Studies) and student presenters (presenters TBD)
Fisk 208
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
WESEMINAR Funders and Founders
What do angel investors, VCs, and philanthropists look for when deciding how to deploy capital? How does a founder, CEO, or Executive Director attract investors and stay afloat in the early days? Alumni will share their stories from the field, lessons learned, and words of wisdom in a series of lightening talks followed by a reception at the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Time permitting, we will open the floor for funders and founders from the audience to share their stories.
Moderator: TBA
Presenters: TBA
Room 311, Allbritton Center (formerly Davenport Campus Center) (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Funders and Founders
What do angel investors, VCs, and philanthropists look for when deciding how to deploy capital? How does a founder, CEO, or Executive Director attract investors and stay afloat in the early days? Alumni will share their stories from the field, lessons learned, and words of wisdom in a series of lightening talks followed by a reception at the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Time permitting, we will open the floor for funders and founders from the audience to share their stories.
Moderator: TBA
Presenters: TBA
Room 311, Allbritton Center (formerly Davenport Campus Center) (Show in Map)
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
WESeminar Coronavirus related topic (Confirmed but details TBD)
WESeminar Coronavirus related topic (Confirmed but details TBD)
With Professor Bill Johnston and Martin Cetron, P22, Director, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine at the CDC.
Location: TBD
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship (PCSE) Open House
Wesleyan is dedicated to providing an education in the liberal arts that is characterized by boldness, rigor, and practical idealism. The Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship makes that mission a reality for students by teaching practical skills, building a community of changemakers, and forging pathways for student entrepreneurs and innovators. Join us for an Open House to see the Center and meet staff, students, and alumni.
PCSE, Ground Floor, Allbritton Center (Show in Map)
Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship (PCSE) Open House
Wesleyan is dedicated to providing an education in the liberal arts that is characterized by boldness, rigor, and practical idealism. The Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship makes that mission a reality for students by teaching practical skills, building a community of changemakers, and forging pathways for student entrepreneurs and innovators. Join us for an Open House to see the Center and meet staff, students, and alumni.
PCSE, Ground Floor, Allbritton Center (Show in Map)
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Champagne Reception for Graduating Seniors and Their Families
Join graduating seniors and their families and friends, as well as other members of the Wesleyan community, for champagne and light hors d’ oeuvres at this casual reception.
Andrus Field (tent)
Champagne Reception for Graduating Seniors and Their Families
Join graduating seniors and their families and friends, as well as other members of the Wesleyan community, for champagne and light hors d’ oeuvres at this casual reception.
Andrus Field (tent)
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Cardinal Connection Cafe
This is the place to meet-up with classmates, relax between events, charge your phone, enjoy a game of pool, or just take in the scenery. Snacks, beverages, beer and wine are available for purchase.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Cardinal Connection Cafe
This is the place to meet-up with classmates, relax between events, charge your phone, enjoy a game of pool, or just take in the scenery. Snacks, beverages, beer and wine are available for purchase.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
4:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Alpha Delta Phi Reception and Banquet
For members of Alpha Delta Phi and their families. Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Alpha Delta Phi, 185 High Street (Show in Map)
Alpha Delta Phi Reception and Banquet
For members of Alpha Delta Phi and their families. Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Alpha Delta Phi, 185 High Street (Show in Map)
5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
WESEMINAR College of Letters Presents: The Annual Philip Hallie Lecture Timothy Snyder, Land of the Free?
Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. His eight chief books are Nationalism, Marxism, and Modern Central Europe: A Biography of Kazimierz Kelles-Krauz (1998); The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999 (2003); Sketches from a Secret War: A Polish Artist’s Mission to Liberate Soviet Ukraine (2005); The Red Prince: The Secret Lives of a Habsburg Archduke (2008); Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin (2010), Thinking the Twentieth Century (with Tony Judt, 2012); Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning (2015); On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (2017); and The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America (2018). He has also co-edited three further books: The Wall Around the West: State Borders and Immigration Controls in Europe and North America (2001); Stalin and Europe: Terror, War, Domination (2013); and The Balkans as Europe (2018). His essays are collected in Ukrainian History, Russian Politics, European Futures (2014), and The Politics of Life and Death (2015). Snyder's work has appeared in forty languages and has received a number of prizes, including the Emerson Prize in the Humanities, the Literature Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Václav Havel Foundation prize, the Foundation for Polish Science prize in the social sciences, the Leipzig Award for European Understanding, the Dutch Auschwitz Committee award, and the Hannah Arendt Prize in Political Thought. Snyder was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, has received the Carnegie and Guggenheim fellowships, and holds state orders from Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland. He has appeared in documentaries, on network television, and in major films. His books have inspired poster campaigns and exhibitions, films, sculpture, a punk rock song, a rap song, a play, and an opera. His words are quoted in political demonstrations around the world, most recently in Hong Kong. He is researching a family history of nationalism and finishing a philosophical book about freedom.
Memorial Chapel
WESEMINAR College of Letters Presents: The Annual Philip Hallie Lecture Timothy Snyder, Land of the Free?
Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. His eight chief books are Nationalism, Marxism, and Modern Central Europe: A Biography of Kazimierz Kelles-Krauz (1998); The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999 (2003); Sketches from a Secret War: A Polish Artist’s Mission to Liberate Soviet Ukraine (2005); The Red Prince: The Secret Lives of a Habsburg Archduke (2008); Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin (2010), Thinking the Twentieth Century (with Tony Judt, 2012); Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning (2015); On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (2017); and The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America (2018). He has also co-edited three further books: The Wall Around the West: State Borders and Immigration Controls in Europe and North America (2001); Stalin and Europe: Terror, War, Domination (2013); and The Balkans as Europe (2018). His essays are collected in Ukrainian History, Russian Politics, European Futures (2014), and The Politics of Life and Death (2015). Snyder's work has appeared in forty languages and has received a number of prizes, including the Emerson Prize in the Humanities, the Literature Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Václav Havel Foundation prize, the Foundation for Polish Science prize in the social sciences, the Leipzig Award for European Understanding, the Dutch Auschwitz Committee award, and the Hannah Arendt Prize in Political Thought. Snyder was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, has received the Carnegie and Guggenheim fellowships, and holds state orders from Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland. He has appeared in documentaries, on network television, and in major films. His books have inspired poster campaigns and exhibitions, films, sculpture, a punk rock song, a rap song, a play, and an opera. His words are quoted in political demonstrations around the world, most recently in Hong Kong. He is researching a family history of nationalism and finishing a philosophical book about freedom.
Memorial Chapel
5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
President’s Reception Honoring Leadership Donors and Volunteers
Please join President Michael Roth '78 and the Wesleyan Board of Trustees at a reception celebrating members of the Wesleyan Leadership Societies. Wesleyan Leadership Societies—the Wesleyan Circle, the 1831 Society, the Olin Associates—recognize the extraordinary commitment and support of Wesleyan leadership donors and volunteers. By invitation only.
President's House Lawn
President’s Reception Honoring Leadership Donors and Volunteers
Please join President Michael Roth '78 and the Wesleyan Board of Trustees at a reception celebrating members of the Wesleyan Leadership Societies. Wesleyan Leadership Societies—the Wesleyan Circle, the 1831 Society, the Olin Associates—recognize the extraordinary commitment and support of Wesleyan leadership donors and volunteers. By invitation only.
President's House Lawn
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Red, Black, and Green! All-College Dinner
Join friends, classmates, and family members for an informal, eco-friendly buffet dinner in the Marketplace at the Usdan University Center.
TICKETS: This event requires advance purchase/registration. If you are unable to purchase tickets in advance, dinner tickets may be available for purchase at Registration in the Exley Science Center or at the dinner location.
Red, Black, and Green! All-College Dinner
Join friends, classmates, and family members for an informal, eco-friendly buffet dinner in the Marketplace at the Usdan University Center.
TICKETS: This event requires advance purchase/registration. If you are unable to purchase tickets in advance, dinner tickets may be available for purchase at Registration in the Exley Science Center or at the dinner location.
All reunion classes,graduates, and parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following when they register:
$30 per person for adults and children over age 12
$10 per person for children 12 and under
Marketplace, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Shabbat Services
Please join Wesleyan’s Jewish chaplain, Rabbi David Leipziger Teva, and the Wesleyan Jewish community for Shabbat services. All are welcome. No reservations necessary.
The Bayit, 157 Church Street (Show in Map)
Shabbat Services
Please join Wesleyan’s Jewish chaplain, Rabbi David Leipziger Teva, and the Wesleyan Jewish community for Shabbat services. All are welcome. No reservations necessary.
The Bayit, 157 Church Street (Show in Map)
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Alpha Delta Phi Banquet Dinner
For members of Alpha Delta Phi and their families.
Alpha Delta Phi, 185 High Street (Show in Map)
Alpha Delta Phi Banquet Dinner
For members of Alpha Delta Phi and their families.
Alpha Delta Phi, 185 High Street (Show in Map)
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
65th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1955 and for Post-50th Alumni (Classes of 1942-1969)
Andersen Meeting Room (110), Usdan University Center
65th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1955 and for Post-50th Alumni (Classes of 1942-1969)
Andersen Meeting Room (110), Usdan University Center
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
60th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1960
Wasch Center for Retired Faculty, 51 Lawn Avenue
60th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1960
Wasch Center for Retired Faculty, 51 Lawn Avenue
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
55th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1965
Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center
55th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1965
Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
45th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1975
McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
45th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1975
McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
President's Reception and Dinner in Honor of the 50th Reunion Class of 1970
NOTE: Members of the 50th Reunion Class will receive a separate invitation in the mail for this special dinner. You can let us know you're planning to attend by either responding using the reply card included with the invitation OR when you register online for the overall weekend.
Beckham Hall, Fayerweather (Show in Map)
President's Reception and Dinner in Honor of the 50th Reunion Class of 1970
NOTE: Members of the 50th Reunion Class will receive a separate invitation in the mail for this special dinner. You can let us know you're planning to attend by either responding using the reply card included with the invitation OR when you register online for the overall weekend.
Beckham Hall, Fayerweather (Show in Map)
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
20th Reunion Reception for the Class of 2000
Room 311, Allbritton Hall (formerly top floor of Davenport Campus Center) (Show in Map)
20th Reunion Reception for the Class of 2000
Room 311, Allbritton Hall (formerly top floor of Davenport Campus Center) (Show in Map)
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
35th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1985
Fries Center for Global Studies, Fisk Hall
35th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1985
Fries Center for Global Studies, Fisk Hall
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
30th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1990
Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
30th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1990
Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
15th Reunion Reception for the Class of 2005
The Resource Center, 167 High Street (Show in Map)
15th Reunion Reception for the Class of 2005
The Resource Center, 167 High Street (Show in Map)
7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
25th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1995
Campbell Reference Center, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
25th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1995
Campbell Reference Center, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
7:45 PM to 10:00 PM
Shabbat Dinner
At this special dinner for returning alumni, graduating seniors, and their families, we will welcome Shabbat with song, food, and joyful fellowship.
TICKETS: This dinner requires advance purchase/registration.
$30 per person for all and children over age 12 (including graduates)
$10 per person for children 12 and under
Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Shabbat Dinner
At this special dinner for returning alumni, graduating seniors, and their families, we will welcome Shabbat with song, food, and joyful fellowship.
TICKETS: This dinner requires advance purchase/registration.
$30 per person for all and children over age 12 (including graduates)
$10 per person for children 12 and under
Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
WESEMINAR: Documentary Film Screening of Broken Pieces followed by Q&A with Roger Weisberg ’75, P’05
WESEMINAR: Documentary Film Screening of Broken Pieces followed by Q&A with Roger Weisberg ’75, P’05
BROKEN PLACES explores why some children are severely damaged by early adversity while others are able to thrive. By revisiting some of the abused and neglected children he profiled decades ago, veteran documentary filmmaker Roger Weisberg was able to dramatically illustrate how early trauma shaped their lives as adults. BROKEN PLACES interweaves these longitudinal narratives with commentary from a few nationally renowned experts to help viewers better understand the devastating impact of childhood adversity as well as the inspiring characteristics of resilience. BROKEN PLACES is the 33rd national public television documentary written, produced and directed by Roger Weisberg ’75, P’05. His previous productions have won over a hundred and fifty awards including Emmy, duPont-Columbia, and Peabody awards, as well as two Academy Award nominations.
Following the screening, Paul Gionfriddo ’75, President and CEO of Mental Health America, will moderate a discussion with Roger.
8:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Annual Reunion Party
Featuring alumni Bands Gary and The Wombats; Urban Renewal; and an alumni jam session
Alumni from the '60s,'70s, and '80s will have you dancing the night away to music that appeals to all ages. All are welcome.
Gary and The Wombats: For their 11th Reunion Weekend appearance Gary and The Wombats bring again their old-time Rock-and-Roll/R&B tunes of the ‘50’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Featuring four of the original members, the band continues to get the dancers out on the floor.
Band members are: Brooke Jones, '64 (sax & vocals); Steve Flance,'65 (guitar, harmonica & vocals); Richard Smith, '65 (bass & vocals); John Dunton,'65 (piano, organ, & vocals); Bryce Zucker
Urban Renewal: Get up and move to a mixture of dance music, including Funk, Motown, R&B, Traditional West African, Ghanaian Highlife, Rock.
Band members are: Bryant Urban ’81 (sax, guitar, harmonica, vocals); Billy Hunter ’78 (vocals); Liz Queler (vocals); Scott Hecker ’80 (trumpet); Billy Yalowitz ’80 (sax); Matt Penn ’80 (drums); Joe Galeota, MA ’85 (drums); Paul Spiro '80 (percussion); Abraham Adzenyah, Adjunct Professor of Music, Emeritus (percussion); Dave Samuels ’78 (bass); Joel Kreisberg ’81 (bass); Doug Cuomo ’80 (guitar); Carl Sturken ’78 (guitar); Robert Levin ’81 (keys, trombone, percussion)
More info to come on the the 3rd act featuring a Jam Session with a variety of alumni musicans.
Set schedule:
1st set = 45 mins and 2nd set = 40mins
8 - 8:45 p.m. Gary and The Wombats
8:55 - 9:40 p.m. Urban Renewal
9:50 - 10:35 p.m. Jam Session
10:45 - 11:25 p.m. Gary and The Wombats
11:35 p.m. - 12:15 a.m. Urban Renewal
12:25 - 1:05 a.m. Jam Session
Patricelli '92 Theater
Annual Reunion Party
Featuring alumni Bands Gary and The Wombats; Urban Renewal; and an alumni jam session
Alumni from the '60s,'70s, and '80s will have you dancing the night away to music that appeals to all ages. All are welcome.
Gary and The Wombats: For their 11th Reunion Weekend appearance Gary and The Wombats bring again their old-time Rock-and-Roll/R&B tunes of the ‘50’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Featuring four of the original members, the band continues to get the dancers out on the floor.
Band members are: Brooke Jones, '64 (sax & vocals); Steve Flance,'65 (guitar, harmonica & vocals); Richard Smith, '65 (bass & vocals); John Dunton,'65 (piano, organ, & vocals); Bryce Zucker
Urban Renewal: Get up and move to a mixture of dance music, including Funk, Motown, R&B, Traditional West African, Ghanaian Highlife, Rock.
Band members are: Bryant Urban ’81 (sax, guitar, harmonica, vocals); Billy Hunter ’78 (vocals); Liz Queler (vocals); Scott Hecker ’80 (trumpet); Billy Yalowitz ’80 (sax); Matt Penn ’80 (drums); Joe Galeota, MA ’85 (drums); Paul Spiro '80 (percussion); Abraham Adzenyah, Adjunct Professor of Music, Emeritus (percussion); Dave Samuels ’78 (bass); Joel Kreisberg ’81 (bass); Doug Cuomo ’80 (guitar); Carl Sturken ’78 (guitar); Robert Levin ’81 (keys, trombone, percussion)
More info to come on the the 3rd act featuring a Jam Session with a variety of alumni musicans.
Set schedule:
1st set = 45 mins and 2nd set = 40mins
8 - 8:45 p.m. Gary and The Wombats
8:55 - 9:40 p.m. Urban Renewal
9:50 - 10:35 p.m. Jam Session
10:45 - 11:25 p.m. Gary and The Wombats
11:35 p.m. - 12:15 a.m. Urban Renewal
12:25 - 1:05 a.m. Jam Session
Patricelli '92 Theater
Saturday, May 23, 2020
8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Usdan University Center Hours and Cardinal Connection Cafe
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out while enjoying assorted refreshments.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Usdan University Center Hours and Cardinal Connection Cafe
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out while enjoying assorted refreshments.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Pi Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
Pi Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Annual Family Swim
Enjoy a morning swim in the Freeman Athletic Center pool. Towels will be provided.
Freeman Athletic Center (Show in Map)
Annual Family Swim
Enjoy a morning swim in the Freeman Athletic Center pool. Towels will be provided.
Freeman Athletic Center (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
50th Reunion Class of 1970 Continental Breakfast
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Class of 1970 Continental Breakfast
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Cardinal Loop Fun Run/Walk (2.1, 3.2, 4.3 Mile Courses)
Cardinal Loop Fun Run/Walk (2.1, 3.2, 4.3 Mile Courses)
Start the day off with an exhilarating run through campus.
Bill Rodgers '70 and Amby Burfoot '68 will lead this year's fun run and walk. Choose among three courses (2.1 miles, 3.2 miles and 4.3 miles). Amby will lead the 2.1 mile course. alternating 2 minute run, 1 minute walk - a technique inspired by another great Wesleyan runner, Jeff Galloway '67.
After the event, the two men, who helped create the running and fitness boom in the late 60’s and 70’s, will talk about their time on the Wesleyan cross-country team, why they started running marathons, and the growth of the running culture. Both will be available to answer questions.
Coffee and snacks will be available after the event.
Meet at the base of Foss Hill (Show in Map)
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
55th Reunion Class of 1965 Headquarters
Klingher Classroom (Room 113), Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
55th Reunion Class of 1965 Headquarters
Klingher Classroom (Room 113), Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Outdoor Yoga Session with Khay Lightwell Muhammad ’05
This will be a 60-minute open level Vinyasa class held outdoors overlooking Foss Hill. Khay/kai invites all bodies and levels of practice to root down before they turn up. Over the last 13 years of practice, Khay has taught for eight of them. She is prenatal certified (in case any expectant mothers would like to join). Her love of yoga has taken her all over, from India to Bushwick, and now to Wesleyan. A few mats will be available, but please bring your own if you can. A beach towel can also be used as substitution. If you have nothing but yourself, that’s perfect as well.
Top of Foss Hill (Rainsite TBD)
Outdoor Yoga Session with Khay Lightwell Muhammad ’05
This will be a 60-minute open level Vinyasa class held outdoors overlooking Foss Hill. Khay/kai invites all bodies and levels of practice to root down before they turn up. Over the last 13 years of practice, Khay has taught for eight of them. She is prenatal certified (in case any expectant mothers would like to join). Her love of yoga has taken her all over, from India to Bushwick, and now to Wesleyan. A few mats will be available, but please bring your own if you can. A beach towel can also be used as substitution. If you have nothing but yourself, that’s perfect as well.
Top of Foss Hill (Rainsite TBD)
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Mystical Seven Society Annual Meeting
Templum, corner of Lawn Avenue and Pine Street (Show in Map)
Mystical Seven Society Annual Meeting
Templum, corner of Lawn Avenue and Pine Street (Show in Map)
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Crew Reception and Alumni Row
Relive good times on the water. All former oarsmen, oarswomen, and friends are invited to gather at the boathouse for a morning row and refreshments.
Macomber Boathouse, 35 Harbor Drive (Show in Map)
Crew Reception and Alumni Row
Relive good times on the water. All former oarsmen, oarswomen, and friends are invited to gather at the boathouse for a morning row and refreshments.
Macomber Boathouse, 35 Harbor Drive (Show in Map)
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
WESEMINAR Is There a Wesleyan Way of Doing Business?
Wesleyan is known for its scholarly culture that encourages debate, for its emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and its commitment to on-campus diversity. But how do these characteristics translate into the business world? In this panel discussion, Miriam Gottfried '05, who covers private equity for The Wall Street Journal, will talk to Wesleyan alumni serving in prominent roles in business and finance. She will explore how their Wesleyan experience has shaped their outlook. Some questions might be: How does having a liberal arts background change your perspective or priorities as a business person? What aspect of your Wesleyan experience best prepared you to succeed in finance? Do you play a different role within your firm than other colleagues because of your Wesleyan career?
Moderator: Miriam Gottfried '05, reporter for The Wall Street Journal
Room 116, Judd Hall
WESEMINAR Is There a Wesleyan Way of Doing Business?
Wesleyan is known for its scholarly culture that encourages debate, for its emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and its commitment to on-campus diversity. But how do these characteristics translate into the business world? In this panel discussion, Miriam Gottfried '05, who covers private equity for The Wall Street Journal, will talk to Wesleyan alumni serving in prominent roles in business and finance. She will explore how their Wesleyan experience has shaped their outlook. Some questions might be: How does having a liberal arts background change your perspective or priorities as a business person? What aspect of your Wesleyan experience best prepared you to succeed in finance? Do you play a different role within your firm than other colleagues because of your Wesleyan career?
Moderator: Miriam Gottfried '05, reporter for The Wall Street Journal
Room 116, Judd Hall
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
WESEMINAR Activism in the Archives & Special Collections
With the E2020 initiative on campus this year, come explore some of the ways that Wesleyan students have been activists over the years and see stunning artists’ books from the collection with a social justice focus. We will discuss some of archival collections documenting student activism collected over the years, how we grow the collection based on what’s happening now on campus, and artists’ books that cover major social justice initiatives of the 20th and 21st century. Presented by Suzy Taraba ’77, MALS ’10, Director of Special Collections & Archives and Amanda Nelson, University Archivist. Limited to 20.
Davison Rare Book Room, Special Collections & Archives, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Activism in the Archives & Special Collections
With the E2020 initiative on campus this year, come explore some of the ways that Wesleyan students have been activists over the years and see stunning artists’ books from the collection with a social justice focus. We will discuss some of archival collections documenting student activism collected over the years, how we grow the collection based on what’s happening now on campus, and artists’ books that cover major social justice initiatives of the 20th and 21st century. Presented by Suzy Taraba ’77, MALS ’10, Director of Special Collections & Archives and Amanda Nelson, University Archivist. Limited to 20.
Davison Rare Book Room, Special Collections & Archives, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
11:15 AM to 11:30 PM
Assemble for the Annual Parade of Classes
Seniors and their families are invited to join alumni for this traditional Wesleyan festivity featuring a live Dixieland band. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. rain or shine, and is followed immediately by the Assembly and Annual Meeting. Look for the class year signs and line-up beside the sign with the year you graduated. The parade begins on Huss Courtyard (behind the Usdan University Center) and parades to Memorial Chapel. All parade participants are encouraged to parade into Memorial Chapel for the Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Meeting.
Huss Courtyard, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Assemble for the Annual Parade of Classes
Seniors and their families are invited to join alumni for this traditional Wesleyan festivity featuring a live Dixieland band. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. rain or shine, and is followed immediately by the Assembly and Annual Meeting. Look for the class year signs and line-up beside the sign with the year you graduated. The parade begins on Huss Courtyard (behind the Usdan University Center) and parades to Memorial Chapel. All parade participants are encouraged to parade into Memorial Chapel for the Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Meeting.
Huss Courtyard, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Annual Parade of Classes
Seniors and their families are invited to join alumni for this traditional Wesleyan festivity featuring a live Dixieland band. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. rain or shine, and is followed immediately by the Assembly and Annual Meeting. Look for the class year signs and line-up beside the sign with the year you graduated. The parade begins on Huss Courtyard (behind the Usdan University Center) and parades to Memorial Chapel. All parade participants are encouraged to parade into Memorial Chapel for the Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Meeting.
Huss Courtyard, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Annual Parade of Classes
Seniors and their families are invited to join alumni for this traditional Wesleyan festivity featuring a live Dixieland band. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. rain or shine, and is followed immediately by the Assembly and Annual Meeting. Look for the class year signs and line-up beside the sign with the year you graduated. The parade begins on Huss Courtyard (behind the Usdan University Center) and parades to Memorial Chapel. All parade participants are encouraged to parade into Memorial Chapel for the Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Meeting.
Huss Courtyard, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Special Collections and Archives Open House
Drop in at the University’s Special Collections and Archives to remember your student days—yearbooks, The Argus, Hermes, face books, and many other historical Wesleyan materials are all here. Chat with SC&A staff about the riches of the University’s rare book collection and how it supports Wesleyan’s educational mission.
Special Collections and Archives and Davison Rare Book Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
Special Collections and Archives Open House
Drop in at the University’s Special Collections and Archives to remember your student days—yearbooks, The Argus, Hermes, face books, and many other historical Wesleyan materials are all here. Chat with SC&A staff about the riches of the University’s rare book collection and how it supports Wesleyan’s educational mission.
Special Collections and Archives and Davison Rare Book Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Thesis Art Exhibition
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2020’s thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History’s Art Studio Program. The exhibition is curated by two students, presenting a work by each of the seniors from their Senior Thesis Exhibition. Works shown are in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
Thesis Art Exhibition
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2020’s thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History’s Art Studio Program. The exhibition is curated by two students, presenting a work by each of the seniors from their Senior Thesis Exhibition. Works shown are in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Meeting
Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Meeting
The 2020 Distinguished Alumni, McConaughy, and Outstanding Service Awards are presented at this time.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
David A. Lipton ’75, P’08, ’16
John E. Yang ’80
Patricia T. Calayag ’85
Hiram E. Chodosh ’85 ~ Keynote Speaker
William F. Wrubel ’85
Jennifer L. Heppel ’90
Kira Orange-Jones ’00
Outstanding Service Award Recipients
John H. Alschuler ’70, P’11
Diana Diamond ’70, P’11
James L. McConaughy Jr. Memorial Award Recipient
Zachary O. Penn ’90, P’23
Memorial Chapel (Show in Map)
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Lunch in Honor of the Post-50th Reunion Alumni (Classes of 1942-1969)
By invitation only.
Patricelli ’92 Theater (Show in Map)
Lunch in Honor of the Post-50th Reunion Alumni (Classes of 1942-1969)
By invitation only.
Patricelli ’92 Theater (Show in Map)
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
WESEMINAR Wesleyan’s Millennials: Who are They Now?
As the years roll on, we change and grow, in experience, perspective and wisdom. Wesleyan grads begin this journey after four years of a unique liberal education, and evolve over a relatively short time. Come hear alumni from the classes of 2010 and 2015 share their journeys, the life-lessons they have learned, new perspectives they’ve adopted, and the advice they have for the class of 2020.
Moderator: Jim Kubat, Associate Director for Jobs and Internship, Gordon Career Center
Panelists: Michael Pernick ’10, Melanie Buford ’10, Haylle Reidy ’15
Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center (former squash court building)
WESEMINAR Wesleyan’s Millennials: Who are They Now?
As the years roll on, we change and grow, in experience, perspective and wisdom. Wesleyan grads begin this journey after four years of a unique liberal education, and evolve over a relatively short time. Come hear alumni from the classes of 2010 and 2015 share their journeys, the life-lessons they have learned, new perspectives they’ve adopted, and the advice they have for the class of 2020.
Moderator: Jim Kubat, Associate Director for Jobs and Internship, Gordon Career Center
Panelists: Michael Pernick ’10, Melanie Buford ’10, Haylle Reidy ’15
Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center (former squash court building)
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
WESEMINAR From Tel Aviv on Fire to Incitement: Studying Israeli Society through Films
Recent Israeli films and TV shows reflect on many controversial contemporary issues, some of them not dealt with up until now. The 13th Annual Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival explores the status of Palestinians, the place of Orthodox Jews in a secular society, gender identity and ethical values among young Israelis and the radical interpretation of the far right of Talmudic texts. In this WESeminar video clips from selected movies will be screened and discussed with the audience.
Presenter: Dalit Katz, Director of the Center for Jewish Studies and Adjunct Associate Professor of Religion.
Room 208, Fisk Hal
WESEMINAR From Tel Aviv on Fire to Incitement: Studying Israeli Society through Films
Recent Israeli films and TV shows reflect on many controversial contemporary issues, some of them not dealt with up until now. The 13th Annual Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival explores the status of Palestinians, the place of Orthodox Jews in a secular society, gender identity and ethical values among young Israelis and the radical interpretation of the far right of Talmudic texts. In this WESeminar video clips from selected movies will be screened and discussed with the audience.
Presenter: Dalit Katz, Director of the Center for Jewish Studies and Adjunct Associate Professor of Religion.
Room 208, Fisk Hal
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Lunch in Honor of the Post-50th Reunion Alumni (Classes of 1942-1969)
By invitation only.
Patricelli ’92 Theater
Lunch in Honor of the Post-50th Reunion Alumni (Classes of 1942-1969)
By invitation only.
Patricelli ’92 Theater
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Wesleyan Posse Veteran Pre-Graduation Celebration
Celebrate the second graduating class of Wesleyan Posse Veterans! This event will honor veteran students in the Class of 2020 who have paved the way for the continuing success of the program. Members of the graduating class will play music, sing, and present remarks. Food and drinks will be served.
Fries Center for Global Studies, Fisk Hall (Show in Map)
Wesleyan Posse Veteran Pre-Graduation Celebration
Celebrate the second graduating class of Wesleyan Posse Veterans! This event will honor veteran students in the Class of 2020 who have paved the way for the continuing success of the program. Members of the graduating class will play music, sing, and present remarks. Food and drinks will be served.
Fries Center for Global Studies, Fisk Hall (Show in Map)
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Pa’lante! Ceremonia de Graducíon
Sábado 23rd, Mayo 2020
Les invitamos a Pa’lante! una ceremonia de graduación en español de Wesleyan! Pa'lante! será una ceremonia íntima en honor a los graduados de la comunidad Latinx y sus queridos para reconocer sus logros en Wesleyan. Se servirán comida y bebidas.
We cordially invite you to attend Pa’lante! the third annual Spanish language graduation ceremony intended to provide an intimate ceremony for non-English speaking families. Pa’lante! will honor Latinx identifying students in the Class of 2020 and recognize their achievements in the Wesleyan community. Food and drinks will be served.
#WesLAN
This event is sponsored by the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Wesleyan Latino Alumni Network (WesLAN)
Tent, Center for the Arts Lawn (Show in Map)
Pa’lante! Ceremonia de Graducíon
Sábado 23rd, Mayo 2020
Les invitamos a Pa’lante! una ceremonia de graduación en español de Wesleyan! Pa'lante! será una ceremonia íntima en honor a los graduados de la comunidad Latinx y sus queridos para reconocer sus logros en Wesleyan. Se servirán comida y bebidas.
We cordially invite you to attend Pa’lante! the third annual Spanish language graduation ceremony intended to provide an intimate ceremony for non-English speaking families. Pa’lante! will honor Latinx identifying students in the Class of 2020 and recognize their achievements in the Wesleyan community. Food and drinks will be served.
#WesLAN
This event is sponsored by the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Wesleyan Latino Alumni Network (WesLAN)
Tent, Center for the Arts Lawn (Show in Map)
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Strolling Magician and Magic Show
For children of all ages!
Andrus Field (Show in Map)
Strolling Magician and Magic Show
For children of all ages!
Andrus Field (Show in Map)
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Picnic and Festival on Foss Hill
This lively festival of entertainment and games is a great place to connect with friends and family members between WESeminars and other weekend programs. Don’t miss the magic show, tattoos, and more. Lunches are portable and can be picked up on your way to Foss Hill, afternoon WESeminars, or other events and destinations.
TICKETS: This lunch requires advance purchase/registration.
Picnic and Festival on Foss Hill
This lively festival of entertainment and games is a great place to connect with friends and family members between WESeminars and other weekend programs. Don’t miss the magic show, tattoos, and more. Lunches are portable and can be picked up on your way to Foss Hill, afternoon WESeminars, or other events and destinations.
TICKETS: This lunch requires advance purchase/registration.
All reunion classes, graduates, and parents and families of the graduates will be charged the following for lunch:
$15 per person for adults and children
Tent, Andrus Field and Foss Hill (Show in Map)
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Alice Hadler Retirement Celebration
Alice Hadler will retire this spring after 25 years at Wesleyan. We invite you to join us in honoring “Professor Alice” and her contributions to generations of international students, young writers, and the Wesleyan community. Details and tickets: wesleyan.edu/cgs/eventsprograms/alice-farewell.html
Beckham Hall, Fayerweather
Alice Hadler Retirement Celebration
Alice Hadler will retire this spring after 25 years at Wesleyan. We invite you to join us in honoring “Professor Alice” and her contributions to generations of international students, young writers, and the Wesleyan community. Details and tickets: wesleyan.edu/cgs/eventsprograms/alice-farewell.html
Beckham Hall, Fayerweather
1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
WESEMINAR Who are They Now? The Unfolding Lives of Four Young Alumni
As the years roll on, we change and grow, launched by Wesleyan into the twists and turns of life. Wesleyan alumni begin this journey after a unique liberal education and evolve over time. Come hear alumni from the classes of 2010 and 2015 reflect on who they were at Wes, new experiences they’ve had, new perspectives gained, life-lessons learned, and who they are now. They may even have some advice for the class of 2020.
Melanie Buford '10 is an instructor in the leadership minor program at the University of Minnesota. She works with students across majors to promote self-discovery and the pursuit of authentic and meaningful social change work. Prior to her role at U of M, Buford was an assistant professor/educator in the Division of Experience-Based Learning and Career Education at the University of Cincinnati, and prior to that, served as a career adviser for liberal arts students at Wesleyan University. Buford is the 2019 recipient of the Ralph W. Tyler Award for outstanding research and publication in the field of experiential learning and was named a YWCA Rising Star for social equity leadership in 2016. She is an AmeriCorps alumna of Public Allies San Francisco. Buford has a B.A. in Psychology from Wesleyan University and an Ed.M in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Michael Pernick '10 is an Associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP. He has an extensive pro bono voting rights practice and has worked on numerous cases (including cases before the United States Supreme Court) involving gerrymandering, voter ID laws, and a variety of other election law issues. Michael has also published legal scholarship and op-eds on campaign finance reform. Michael is a senior fellow at the Millennial Policy Initiative Commission on Democracy and Voting Rights, a member of the Nassau County Board of Ethics, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Adult Congenital Heart Association. Before becoming a lawyer, Michael managed political campaigns in New York and Connecticut. Michael is a graduate of Wesleyan University, where he served as President of the Wesleyan Student Assembly, and New York University School of Law.
Danielle Pruitt '15
Haylle Reidy '15 was an Economics and French Studies double major and received a certificate in International Relations from Wesleyan. She worked for athenahealth, a health tech company in Boston, in product management for more than three years before leaving to get her MBA at Tuck School of Business (the business school of Dartmouth). She is currently completing her first year at Tuck.
Moderator: Jim Kubat, Associate Director for Job and Internship Development, Gordon Career Center
Panelists: Melanie Buford '10, Teaching Specialist/Field Experience Level Lead, Leadership Minor; Michael Pernick ’10, Associate, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Danielle Pruitt '15, Senior Associate Producer, MTV, Viacom; Haylle Reidy ’15, MBA Candidate, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College.
Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center (former squash court building)
WESEMINAR Who are They Now? The Unfolding Lives of Four Young Alumni
As the years roll on, we change and grow, launched by Wesleyan into the twists and turns of life. Wesleyan alumni begin this journey after a unique liberal education and evolve over time. Come hear alumni from the classes of 2010 and 2015 reflect on who they were at Wes, new experiences they’ve had, new perspectives gained, life-lessons learned, and who they are now. They may even have some advice for the class of 2020.
Melanie Buford '10 is an instructor in the leadership minor program at the University of Minnesota. She works with students across majors to promote self-discovery and the pursuit of authentic and meaningful social change work. Prior to her role at U of M, Buford was an assistant professor/educator in the Division of Experience-Based Learning and Career Education at the University of Cincinnati, and prior to that, served as a career adviser for liberal arts students at Wesleyan University. Buford is the 2019 recipient of the Ralph W. Tyler Award for outstanding research and publication in the field of experiential learning and was named a YWCA Rising Star for social equity leadership in 2016. She is an AmeriCorps alumna of Public Allies San Francisco. Buford has a B.A. in Psychology from Wesleyan University and an Ed.M in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Michael Pernick '10 is an Associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP. He has an extensive pro bono voting rights practice and has worked on numerous cases (including cases before the United States Supreme Court) involving gerrymandering, voter ID laws, and a variety of other election law issues. Michael has also published legal scholarship and op-eds on campaign finance reform. Michael is a senior fellow at the Millennial Policy Initiative Commission on Democracy and Voting Rights, a member of the Nassau County Board of Ethics, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Adult Congenital Heart Association. Before becoming a lawyer, Michael managed political campaigns in New York and Connecticut. Michael is a graduate of Wesleyan University, where he served as President of the Wesleyan Student Assembly, and New York University School of Law.
Danielle Pruitt '15
Haylle Reidy '15 was an Economics and French Studies double major and received a certificate in International Relations from Wesleyan. She worked for athenahealth, a health tech company in Boston, in product management for more than three years before leaving to get her MBA at Tuck School of Business (the business school of Dartmouth). She is currently completing her first year at Tuck.
Moderator: Jim Kubat, Associate Director for Job and Internship Development, Gordon Career Center
Panelists: Melanie Buford '10, Teaching Specialist/Field Experience Level Lead, Leadership Minor; Michael Pernick ’10, Associate, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Danielle Pruitt '15, Senior Associate Producer, MTV, Viacom; Haylle Reidy ’15, MBA Candidate, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College.
Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center (former squash court building)
1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
WESEMINAR The Liberal Arts Behind Prison Walls: Learning with the Center for Prison Education
Learn about the Center for Prison Education - an academic program where Wesleyan faculty teach credited courses at two CT correctional facilities. You will hear from a faculty member, an undergraduate student, and a released student about their experiences supporting, teaching and participating in the program.
Moderator: Allie Cislo, Program Manager, Wesleyan Center for Prison Education
Presenters: Lori Gruen, William Griffin Professor of Philosophy. She has taught 8 courses with the Center for Prison Education and served as the first chair of CPE’s Faculty Advisory Committee. Gabe Hurlock, '20 participated in CPE for a year as tutor and TA of Philosophy and is currently an on-campus activist and is focusing her intellectual endeavors on prison abolition. Marisol Garcia participated in CPE from 2017 until she was released in 2019. She is currently enrolled at Middlesex Community College pursuing a dual degree in Political Science and Business Administration, after which she plans to transfer to a four-year university before entering a PhD/JD program. She wants to continue her passion of helping others avoid the pitfalls of mass incarceration and successful re-entry.
Room 112, Boger Hall (formerly the Squash Court Building)
WESEMINAR The Liberal Arts Behind Prison Walls: Learning with the Center for Prison Education
Learn about the Center for Prison Education - an academic program where Wesleyan faculty teach credited courses at two CT correctional facilities. You will hear from a faculty member, an undergraduate student, and a released student about their experiences supporting, teaching and participating in the program.
Moderator: Allie Cislo, Program Manager, Wesleyan Center for Prison Education
Presenters: Lori Gruen, William Griffin Professor of Philosophy. She has taught 8 courses with the Center for Prison Education and served as the first chair of CPE’s Faculty Advisory Committee. Gabe Hurlock, '20 participated in CPE for a year as tutor and TA of Philosophy and is currently an on-campus activist and is focusing her intellectual endeavors on prison abolition. Marisol Garcia participated in CPE from 2017 until she was released in 2019. She is currently enrolled at Middlesex Community College pursuing a dual degree in Political Science and Business Administration, after which she plans to transfer to a four-year university before entering a PhD/JD program. She wants to continue her passion of helping others avoid the pitfalls of mass incarceration and successful re-entry.
Room 112, Boger Hall (formerly the Squash Court Building)
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Senior Thesis Showcase Reception
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2020’s thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History’s Art Studio Program. The exhibition is curated by two students, presenting a work by each of the seniors from their Senior Thesis Exhibition. Works shown are in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture. Co-sponsored by University Relations. There will be a reception with refreshments in honor of the seniors at 2 p.m. with curator comments at 3:30 p.m.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
Senior Thesis Showcase Reception
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2020’s thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History’s Art Studio Program. The exhibition is curated by two students, presenting a work by each of the seniors from their Senior Thesis Exhibition. Works shown are in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture. Co-sponsored by University Relations. There will be a reception with refreshments in honor of the seniors at 2 p.m. with curator comments at 3:30 p.m.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
2:45 PM to 4:30 PM
Athletic Department Senior Awards Presentation
Come celebrate the accomplishments of our senior student-athletes as they gather together one final time as undergrads in Silloway Gymnasium.
Silloway Gymnasium, Freeman Athletic Center (Show in Map)
Athletic Department Senior Awards Presentation
Come celebrate the accomplishments of our senior student-athletes as they gather together one final time as undergrads in Silloway Gymnasium.
Silloway Gymnasium, Freeman Athletic Center (Show in Map)
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
WESEMINAR But What Will You Do With an English Degree?
David Biello '95, Science Curator for TED, science journalist, author; Amy Hundley '95 senior editor and subsidiary rights director at Grove Atlantic; Lara Tupper '95 fiction writer, performer, teacher reflect on their experiences as English majors and how Wesleyan shaped their careers.
David Biello '95 is an award-winning journalist who has been reporting on the environment and energy since 1999. He is currently the Science Curator for TED and, prior to that, was the Environment & Energy Editor at Scientific American, where he had been a contributor since 2005. He has also written for publications ranging from Aeon and Foreign Policy to the Los Angeles Review of Books and The New Republic. Biello has been a guest on numerous television and radio shows. He hosts the ongoing duPont-Columbia award-wining documentary Beyond the Light Switch as well as The Ethanol Effect for PBS. @dbiello
Amy Hundley '95 is senior editor and subsidiary rights director at Grove Atlantic. As a fiction editor, she has worked with authors such as Jim Harrison, Roxane Gay, Anne Enright, Val McDermid, Barry Hannah, Malcolm Brooks, Porochista Khakpour, Chris Offutt, G. Willow Wilson, and Aminatta Forna. A forthcoming highlight is Lauren Francis-Sharma’s Book of the Little Axe, a historical novel about the intersection of Black and Native Americans in the early 19th century, published in May 2020. Her nonfiction list includes The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom, winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, Nine Continents by Xiaolu Guo, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for biography/memoir, and The Black Cabinet, historian Jill Watts’s history of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s unofficial African-American “cabinet.” @amy_hundley
Lara Tupper '95 is the author of the novels Off Island and A Thousand and One Nights, and Amphibians, a linked short story collection forthcoming in 2021 (winner, Leapfrog Fiction Award). Lara taught creative writing at Rutgers University for many years and now teaches, writes, and sings in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. A jazz/pop vocalist who has performed around the world, her latest album is This Dance. laratupper.com
Lisa Weinert has worked with hundreds of award-winning and best-selling authors as an editor, literary coach, publicist and agent, including Dani Shapiro, Oliver Sacks, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Mary Gaitskill. She teaches a publishing course at Wesleyan University, is creator of the popular Authors Guild online course, Age of the Storyteller, and curates her Narrative Healing program at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. lisaweinert.com
Room 116, Judd Hall
WESEMINAR But What Will You Do With an English Degree?
David Biello '95, Science Curator for TED, science journalist, author; Amy Hundley '95 senior editor and subsidiary rights director at Grove Atlantic; Lara Tupper '95 fiction writer, performer, teacher reflect on their experiences as English majors and how Wesleyan shaped their careers.
David Biello '95 is an award-winning journalist who has been reporting on the environment and energy since 1999. He is currently the Science Curator for TED and, prior to that, was the Environment & Energy Editor at Scientific American, where he had been a contributor since 2005. He has also written for publications ranging from Aeon and Foreign Policy to the Los Angeles Review of Books and The New Republic. Biello has been a guest on numerous television and radio shows. He hosts the ongoing duPont-Columbia award-wining documentary Beyond the Light Switch as well as The Ethanol Effect for PBS. @dbiello
Amy Hundley '95 is senior editor and subsidiary rights director at Grove Atlantic. As a fiction editor, she has worked with authors such as Jim Harrison, Roxane Gay, Anne Enright, Val McDermid, Barry Hannah, Malcolm Brooks, Porochista Khakpour, Chris Offutt, G. Willow Wilson, and Aminatta Forna. A forthcoming highlight is Lauren Francis-Sharma’s Book of the Little Axe, a historical novel about the intersection of Black and Native Americans in the early 19th century, published in May 2020. Her nonfiction list includes The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom, winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, Nine Continents by Xiaolu Guo, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for biography/memoir, and The Black Cabinet, historian Jill Watts’s history of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s unofficial African-American “cabinet.” @amy_hundley
Lara Tupper '95 is the author of the novels Off Island and A Thousand and One Nights, and Amphibians, a linked short story collection forthcoming in 2021 (winner, Leapfrog Fiction Award). Lara taught creative writing at Rutgers University for many years and now teaches, writes, and sings in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. A jazz/pop vocalist who has performed around the world, her latest album is This Dance. laratupper.com
Lisa Weinert has worked with hundreds of award-winning and best-selling authors as an editor, literary coach, publicist and agent, including Dani Shapiro, Oliver Sacks, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Mary Gaitskill. She teaches a publishing course at Wesleyan University, is creator of the popular Authors Guild online course, Age of the Storyteller, and curates her Narrative Healing program at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. lisaweinert.com
Room 116, Judd Hall
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Alumni of Color (AOC)/ Students of Color (SOC) Reception and African American Studies Open House
This event is sponsored by the Center for African American Studies and the Alumni of Color Council (AOCC).
Tent, Davison Health Center which is adjacent to the Center for African American Studies (Show in Map)
Alumni of Color (AOC)/ Students of Color (SOC) Reception and African American Studies Open House
This event is sponsored by the Center for African American Studies and the Alumni of Color Council (AOCC).
Tent, Davison Health Center which is adjacent to the Center for African American Studies (Show in Map)
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Reunion Class Headquarters for 1955 and 1960
Room 110, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
Reunion Class Headquarters for 1955 and 1960
Room 110, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Class of 1965 Conversation
Klingher Classroom (Room 113), Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
Class of 1965 Conversation
Klingher Classroom (Room 113), Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
WESEMINAR Senior Thesis Showcase and Reception
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2020’s thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History’s Art Studio Program. The exhibition is curated by students in a tutorial with Assistant Professor of Art History Claire Grace and Associate Director of Visual Arts Benjamin Chaffee, presenting a work by each of the seniors from their Senior Thesis Exhibition. Works shown are in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture. Co-sponsored by the Office of Advancement.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Senior Thesis Showcase and Reception
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2020’s thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History’s Art Studio Program. The exhibition is curated by students in a tutorial with Assistant Professor of Art History Claire Grace and Associate Director of Visual Arts Benjamin Chaffee, presenting a work by each of the seniors from their Senior Thesis Exhibition. Works shown are in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture. Co-sponsored by the Office of Advancement.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Alumni Reception
Please join members of the LGBTQ Alumni Network, parents and friends as we welcome graduating seniors to the alumni community.
The Resource Center, 167 High Street (Show in Map)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Alumni Reception
Please join members of the LGBTQ Alumni Network, parents and friends as we welcome graduating seniors to the alumni community.
The Resource Center, 167 High Street (Show in Map)
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Annual Reception Honoring Retiring Faculty
All are welcome to honor members of the faculty who retire this year.
Susan B. and William K. Wasch Center for Retired Faculty, 51 Lawn Avenue (Show in Map)
Annual Reception Honoring Retiring Faculty
All are welcome to honor members of the faculty who retire this year.
Susan B. and William K. Wasch Center for Retired Faculty, 51 Lawn Avenue (Show in Map)
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Cardinal Connection Cafe
This is the place to meet-up with classmates, relax between events, charge your phone, enjoy a game of pool, or just take in the scenery. Snacks, beverages, beer and wine are available for purchase.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Cardinal Connection Cafe
This is the place to meet-up with classmates, relax between events, charge your phone, enjoy a game of pool, or just take in the scenery. Snacks, beverages, beer and wine are available for purchase.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
50th Reunion Class of 1970 Faculty Roundtable
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Class of 1970 Faculty Roundtable
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Reunion Class Receptions and Dinners
Post-50th Alumni (Classes of 1942–1969) and the Classes of 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975*, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 gather for their Class Dinners and special programs.
*Gary Steinel '75 will present a variety of beers from the Captain Lawrence Brewery Co., Elmsford, NY.
TICKETS: Each dinner requires advance purchase/registration.
All reunion classes will be charged the following for dinner:
$50 per person - Cash bar
Class Dinner Locations: TBA
Reunion Class Receptions and Dinners
Post-50th Alumni (Classes of 1942–1969) and the Classes of 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975*, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 gather for their Class Dinners and special programs.
*Gary Steinel '75 will present a variety of beers from the Captain Lawrence Brewery Co., Elmsford, NY.
TICKETS: Each dinner requires advance purchase/registration.
All reunion classes will be charged the following for dinner:
$50 per person - Cash bar
Class Dinner Locations: TBA
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Senior Voices (Baccalaureate)
Come join the class of 2020 as they reflect, share and recap some of their unique and transformative moments from their years at Wesleyan. You don’t want to miss this. All are welcome.
Sponsor: Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
Memorial Chapel (Show in Map)
Senior Voices (Baccalaureate)
Come join the class of 2020 as they reflect, share and recap some of their unique and transformative moments from their years at Wesleyan. You don’t want to miss this. All are welcome.
Sponsor: Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
Memorial Chapel (Show in Map)
9:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Traditional All-College Sing
Steps of North College; Rainsite: Memorial Chapel (Show in Map)
Traditional All-College Sing
Steps of North College; Rainsite: Memorial Chapel (Show in Map)
Sunday, May 24, 2020
8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Usdan University Center Hours
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out while enjoying assorted refreshments.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Usdan University Center Hours
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out while enjoying assorted refreshments.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Registration and Information
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
Registration and Information
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
All-Campus Brunch Buffet
Wrap up a great weekend with a hearty brunch in the new Usdan University Center.
Tickets: This event requires ticket purchase at time of registration.
All-Campus Brunch Buffet
Wrap up a great weekend with a hearty brunch in the new Usdan University Center.
Tickets: This event requires ticket purchase at time of registration.
All reunion classes, graduates, parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following when they register: $22 per person for all other adults (including graduates) and children over age 12, and $10 per person for children 12 and under.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Commencement Luggage Storage
Secure luggage storage at Registration during the Commencement ceremony.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
Commencement Luggage Storage
Secure luggage storage at Registration during the Commencement ceremony.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
9:00 AM to 10:15 AM
Graduate Student Breakfast Celebration and Rehearsal
The Graduate Marshal will prepare the graduating MA and PhD students for the Commencement Ceremony.
Lobby, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
Graduate Student Breakfast Celebration and Rehearsal
The Graduate Marshal will prepare the graduating MA and PhD students for the Commencement Ceremony.
Lobby, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
50th Reunion Brunch for the Class of 1969
Members of the Class of 1970 are planning to gather for brunch around 9 a.m.
Tickets: This event requires ticket purchase at time of registration.
50th Reunion Brunch for the Class of 1969
Members of the Class of 1970 are planning to gather for brunch around 9 a.m.
Tickets: This event requires ticket purchase at time of registration.
All reunion classes, graduates, parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following when they register: $22 per person for all other adults (including graduates) and children over age 12, and $10 per person for children 12 and under.
Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
9:30 AM to 10:00 AM
GLS Graduates' Commencement Preparation
GLSP staff will prepare graduating students for the Commencement Ceremony.
GLS Office, 74 Wyllys Ave. (Show in Map)
GLS Graduates' Commencement Preparation
GLSP staff will prepare graduating students for the Commencement Ceremony.
GLS Office, 74 Wyllys Ave. (Show in Map)
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Faculty and Undergraduates Assemble for Commencement
Top of Foss Hill (Show in Map)
Faculty and Undergraduates Assemble for Commencement
Top of Foss Hill (Show in Map)
10:15 AM to 11:00 AM
Parent and Grandparent Educators Assemble for Commencement
Parents and Grandparents of graduating seniors who work in the field of education are invited to march as a division in the Commencement Ceremony. Educators are then welcome to sit as a division, along with a guest, or may choose to sit in general seating following the procession. Educators must supply and wear their own regalia. Please respond to Dana Coffin via email at dcoffin@wesleyan.edu, or by phone at (860) 685-3756 by May 12 if you would like to participate.
Top of Foss Hill (Show in Map)
Parent and Grandparent Educators Assemble for Commencement
Parents and Grandparents of graduating seniors who work in the field of education are invited to march as a division in the Commencement Ceremony. Educators are then welcome to sit as a division, along with a guest, or may choose to sit in general seating following the procession. Educators must supply and wear their own regalia. Please respond to Dana Coffin via email at dcoffin@wesleyan.edu, or by phone at (860) 685-3756 by May 12 if you would like to participate.
Top of Foss Hill (Show in Map)
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
188th Commencement Ceremony
The ceremony will take place in the center of campus, rain or shine, and will last approximately 2–2½ hours. The ceremony may also be viewed online.
188th Commencement Ceremony
The ceremony will take place in the center of campus, rain or shine, and will last approximately 2–2½ hours. The ceremony may also be viewed online.
Tickets: All are welcome to attend Wesleyan's 188th Commencement Ceremony. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. The 5,000 chairs on Andrus Field (some are outside, some under the large tent with full view of the podium) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is additional room for seating on Foss Hill (bring a blanket or folding chairs).
Accessibility Seating and Parking: Visitors needing accessible parking may utilize any of the designated spaces on campus with a properly displayed state-issued plate or placard from any state. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The ceremony takes place on Denison Terrace, which is parallel to the back of Olin Memorial Library. Mobility impaired guests may park in the “C” lot off of Church Street or the Office of Admission parking lot. University staff and students driving golf carts will be available at each lot to assist in transporting guests to-and-from the accessibility section on Andrus Field. Drivers may also drop of guests on Wyllys Avenue and then park elsewhere. Each disabled person may be accompanied by two family members in the accessible section (located on the area adjacent to the Zelnick Pavilion and Public Affairs Center). You can sign up for seating in the accessibility section and find more details pertaining to accessibility accommodations here.
Water: Wesleyan is proud to announce a bottled water-free Commencement. Reusable bottles and water stations are available to keep guests hydrated. If you do not wish to take your reusable bottle home with you, please leave it under your chair or place in one of the clear recycling containers located on Andrus Field or at the President’s Commencement Celebration so that we can reuse bottles for future occasions.
Andrus Field (Show in Map)
Inclement Weather Plan
The Commencement Ceremony is held outdoors, rain or shine. Under certain weather conditions, the ceremony may be shifted from the open field, where seating is unlimited, into the large tent on Andrus Field. Although the tent accommodates numerous spectators, seating is limited. In this scenario, we respectfully request that each graduate limit his/her guests to 3 seats under the tent. Please come prepared with raincoats, umbrellas, and appropriate footwear.
Information will be posted on the Wesleyan homepage and the Reunion & Commencement website, and graduating seniors will be notified via email. Details will also be available at Registration (Exley Science Center). The ceremony will be simulcast in the Memorial Chapel, Patricelli ’92 Theater, Ring Family Performing Arts Hall, and Tishler Lecture Hall (Room 150) at Exley Science Center, rain or shine. The ceremony may also be viewed online. Please check the Reunion landing page or the WesCast webcast page for details the week of May 17, 2020.
Tent, Andrus Field (Show in Map)
Following the ceremony
President’s Commencement Celebration: A gathering celebrating the Class of 2020 will take place immediately following the Commencement ceremony. Due to the large crowds at the gathering, families and students who wish to meet are encouraged to identify a place in advance (e.g., one of the buildings on College Row). Light refreshments will be available.
McKelvey Green (lawn in front of College Row) (Show in Map)
GLS Champagne Reception and Diploma Distribution: GLS graduates and guests are invited to this reception. We will distribute diplomas and raise our glasses in a toast to the graduates!
Tent, Center For the Arts Green (Show in Map)